Draconis was done playing games with this revolting priest.
Yes, he'd been reborn as a demon, but at his core, he still sided with humanity. The fact that humans and devils could actually coexist—he liked that. Devils had their own laws, after all. The ones who went rogue, the strays, were hunted down by both devils and angels.
And this priest? He was no better than a stray devil.
A piercing scream shattered their duel.
"Kyaa!!"
Both combatants turned. Draconis's eyes narrowed. Wasn't that—Asia?
The blonde nun he'd met before stood frozen in the doorway, wide-eyed and trembling.
So she was mixed up in this mess too…?
Freed grinned, all teeth and madness. "Oh my, my adorable assistant Asia-chan! What's up? Finished with the barrier?"
But Asia didn't answer. Her gaze was locked on the heap of rubble, where a woman's corpse lay half-buried. From her vantage, she could still see the mangled remains.
Freed cackled, voice dripping with cruelty. "Thanks for the cute scream! First time seeing a corpse like this, huh? Take a good look. This is what happens to trash seduced by demons!"
His words made Asia's face go dead white. She staggered back, horror etched into every line.
Draconis watched her, understanding dawning. Asia wasn't in on this. She had no idea what had happened. No way someone so pure could be part of this nightmare.
He turned his icy glare back on Freed—and poured magic into the Regalia Blade. Power thrummed through the sword, the blade vibrating with anticipation.
Air filled his lungs. His legs tensed.
He vanished, moving so fast the eye couldn't follow.
Freed, for all his mania, had sharp instincts. He swung his light sword to intercept, metal clanging against magic. But the force behind Draconis's attack was overwhelming. The blow knocked Freed's blade backward—right into his own chest.
Freed flew across the room, blood spraying as he crashed through another wall.
Draconis's strike had nearly folded him in half.
Even before his rebirth, the Regalia Blade could kill a fallen angel in one blow. Now, with his powers boosted by Faith Contract, its strength was terrifying.
Draconis felt a surge of satisfaction. The attack had looked almost casual, but that was the point—every joule of magic was perfectly controlled, no wasted flash or energy. Freed hadn't seen the threat until it was too late.
Freed bounced off the rubble, coughing blood, struggling to his feet. Draconis didn't hesitate—he charged in, ready to finish it.
Freed's eyes flashed with panic. "Not good! Time to bail!"
He fumbled a pellet from his pocket and smashed it to the ground.
Blinding holy light exploded outward. Draconis's skin burned wherever the radiance touched, agony flaring across his nerves. He was forced to retreat, summoning the Divine Lament Shield to cover himself.
When the light faded, Freed was gone.
Escaped. Draconis's jaw tightened.
Sacred flash grenades? Really? What a cheap trick.
Damn it.
Asia stared at Draconis—no, at the black wings unfurled behind him.
"Draconis-san… you're a demon?"
He kept his voice guarded. "Why were you with someone like that?"
Until he knew her side, he couldn't trust her.
"I… I just followed the church's instructions. I didn't know…" She glanced at the half-buried corpse, face pale as snow.
Draconis's tone softened. "You saw it yourself. That guy's a lunatic."
"…I'm sorry." Asia's voice trembled, lost and helpless. Then she rallied: "Draconis-san, let me heal you. Your skin—it's burned…"
Light blossomed in her hands—gentle, soothing.
Holy light?
Draconis was about to refuse, but then he felt it—the burns from the sacred flash were healing, the pain fading away.
Wait. Wasn't she a nun? Using holy magic? How could she heal a demon?
He glanced at her hands. Two silver rings glimmered on her delicate fingers, radiating waves of vital energy that soothed him to his core.
"A Sacred Gear?" he murmured.
He wasn't a rookie anymore. Asia's power was clearly coming from those rings.
"Yes. It's a gift from the Lord. These are called the Holy Mother's Smile. I thank the Almighty for granting me the power to heal others…"
Draconis fell silent.
A nun who could heal devils? That was… absurdly powerful.
Within moments, every burn was gone. Draconis finally let his guard down.
"So what will you do now? Go back to the church?"
He watched Asia carefully. If she returned, their positions would be in conflict.
"I… I don't know…" Asia's face was lost, shaken by Freed's cruelty. She clearly didn't want to work with him anymore. But leaving the church? That was a leap into the unknown.
Draconis was about to speak again when he sensed a ripple of magic nearby. He turned.
A devil's teleportation circle shimmered into existence. Rias and the others had arrived.
…
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